State Rep. Roberta Willis leads the way in Connecticut

State Rep. Roberta Willis wants to get Connecticut up to speed, and after years of witnessing the slow progress of expanding high speed Internet access in her state, Rep. Willis is taking matters into her own hands.

In March, she introduced HB 5682, "An Act Concerning High Speed Broadband Access." The legislation would foster the build-out of high speed Internet access for Connecticut's underserved communities and allow local residents to fully take part in the digital age.

As Willis declared,

"There is a digital divide. This is not a luxury anymore, it's a necessity."

High speed Internet is crucial for all Americans to participate in the global economy and reap the benefits of technological innovation. It's especially important for folks in rural parts, where high speed access can help overcome distance and geography obstacles.

• The ability to get online could mean more young families moving to the area if they could "telecommute" via the Web, students having access to resources and information and others finding necessary information and a sense of community that is sometimes hard to find in isolated areas.

Willis expressed frustration with the slow progress in expanding high speed Internet in Connecticut, citing Comcast's supposed "large expansion" over the past four years that so far has only covered four miles and 58 additional homes.

• "One of my first projects was getting AT&T representatives into Salisbury Town Hall for a meeting with consumers who wanted the service. We did manage to get the lines extended. First in Salisbury, then in Sharon.... I feel like I've been working on one street, or even one house, at a time over the last eight years." 

After introducing her bill, Willis testified before the State House Energy and Technology Committee, along with state government officials, telecom industry representatives, and CWA Local 1298 President Bill Henderson.

Next, the bill will be presented to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee, and after that to the general House. The real challenge will be finding sufficient funding to meet the bill's goals of expanded high speed Internet access. But this issue is too important to fail for lack of funding, and it's essential for lawmakers to pass this bill and bring high speed Internet to all residents of Connecticut.

Northwest Corner Towns Still Seeking Internet Satisfaction (Litchfield County Times)